File:The American Museum journal (c1900-(1918)) (18156967412).jpg

Title: The American Museum journal
Identifier: americanmuseumjo18amer (find matches)
Year: c1900-(1918) (c190s)
Authors: American Museum of Natural History
Subjects: Natural history
Publisher: New York : American Museum of Natural History
Contributing Library: American Museum of Natural History Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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60 THE AMERICAX MUSEUM JOURXAL wild native waterfowl, is a charming species to breed. Although not prolific like the mallard, it will breed every year, and produce two layings if prop- erly managed. As with other wild ducks in captivity, to hold them in open enclosures for breeding the stock should be pinioned. This species in the wild state nests in hollow trees, but in cap- tivity uses nesting-boxes on posts, with a cleated board walk leading up to the five-inch hole in the side. Small nail kegs answer very Avell, or any ordinary box. The posts are set out in shallow water preferably, or else on shore amid shelter of shrubbery. When the laying is complete, the eggs should be taken at once and hatched under a common hen, one of fairly light weight being best. The duck will probably lay an- other set, which she may be allowed to hatch and raise, provided the pond is free from large fish, frogs, turtles, or snakes, and there are not many other ducks. Wood ducks are in great de- mand as breeding stock, and bring from $10 to $20 a pair, so that their propa- gation is quite profitable. Until recent years most of the stock used in this countrv was raised in Holland. Wild ducks' eggs also hatch quite well in incubators, if given all possible moisture, and the young can be raised in brooders, although it is easier and less exacting work to employ hens. In tlie latter case the hens are kept shut in the coop, and the young allowed to run in and out through slats, confining them to a wired yard on grass, and moving them to a new spot now and then. The coop should be kept very clean, and fresh sand frequently spread over the bottom. Of course there are many other kinds of wild ducks, but the work of breeding them in this country, especially our na- tive kinds, is still in its infancy. The main hindrance is that wild captured ducks are loath to produce eggs at first. If kept in a suitable pond where they are not disturbed, and where there is plenty of cover, although they do not lay the first year, they probably will begin the second season, and do still l)etter the third. The young should be reared by hens, and will be tamer and more ready to breed than their parents. This is the way to build up breeding stocks and solve this problem with vari- ous native species hitherto largely un-
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A band of wild Canada geese raised by W. R. Truman, of Marshall, Illinois, demonstrates the great possibilities in domestication of wild fowl. Geese and swans are hardy birds, requiring little care, yet not many instances are known of their being bred in captivity

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